Gutwein deceit over forestry sell off exposed

Labor Leader Bryan Green today accused Treasurer Peter Gutwein of outright deceit in his bid to sell off the State’s plantation estate to stop Forestry Tasmania going broke.

“Forestry Tasmania Chairman, Bob Annells, today contradicted Treasurer Peter Gutwein when he said the trees and the State-owned land they are growing on may be offered for sale,” Mr Green said.

“Peter Gutwein has clearly said only the trees and not the land would be sold.

“This is about selling the crop, not selling the farm,” Peter Gutwein
ABC – 30th April.

“Now we are being told by Forestry Tasmania that some land will need to be sold to keep the government business afloat.

“In some limited cases where we actually purchased land to establish forests, plantations, we may well sell the lot,” Bob Annells – ABC 15th May.

“Who is telling the truth, Mr Gutwein or Mr Annells and what is Resources Minister Paul Harriss saying now?

“The Liberals are in an utter shambles over forestry.

“Remember the Liberals promised to not only expand the forest industry, protect jobs and allow Forestry Tasmania to trade its way out of financial trouble.

“Mr Annells confirmed today that at least 50 Forestry Tasmania workers face the sack and even cast doubt on whether the sale of plantations will be enough to keep the lights on at Forestry Tasmania.

“We don’t know yet at all whether in fact the sale of our plantation estate will get us the funds we need,” Bob Annells – ABC 15th May.

“Paul Harriss says he wants to make Forestry Tasmania ‘skinnier’ but what he’s doing is starving the business to death.

“The Liberals will achieve what the Greens have been striving to do years, and that is to send Forestry Tasmania out of business.

“Only Labor remains committed to a viable long term future for Forestry Tasmania.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader